Wednesday, April 25, 2007

WHAT IS THIS AYAHUASCA STUFF ANYWAY?

I'm really glad that you asked because there's a great article about it called Plants with Soul by Michael Posner which was published last year in the outstanding Canadian magazine "The Walrus." This is the best written, solidly researched and objective piece that I've read on a topic which is usually presented either foolishly or fearfully. It also tells the very interesting story of how the US Supreme Court decided unanimously that the anti-drug people could not prevent its use as a religious sacrament.

Here are the plants:

The leaf Psychotria viridis

and the vine Banisteriopsis caapi

Many traditions -- about 72 have been identified -- honor the sacred tea made from these plants, each according to their own religious narratives and ritual practices. The unique intelligence of plants is that they are the ones who know how to turn light into life. Thus, ayahuasca is considered by many as a "light unto the world" -- a powerful plant teacher and a guide connecting the stars of the firmament to life on earth.

Currently, some of the best exposition of the phenomenology of the ayahuasca experience can be found in the research of the cognitive scientist Benny Shanon. And, there's a lot more emerging from this well of wisdom. Stayed tuned.

Subscribe via email

Fair Use Notice

This site contains copyrighted material, the use of which has generally not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. This material is being made available in an attempt to advance understanding of issues of environmental, political, news and humanitarian significance. This site believes this constitutes a "fair use" of any such material as provided in section 107 of the US Copyright Laws.